7 reasons to volunteer for a startup

Startup companies are unique. While they are different from large corporations, they can still offer a wide variety of fulfilling roles and opportunities for personal growth. Unfortunately, most don’t have big budgets for salaries and hiring new talent. This is a challenge for Calgary-based startups that have to compete with large companies who are able to offer ‘downtown salaries.’ In addition, entrepreneurs often don’t have the time to search for talented individuals.

Startup Calgary & AcceleratorYYC listened to some entrepreneurs who were looking for help and organized a networking event that connected 25 potential volunteers with 10 early stage tech startups.

Beyond the obvious ‘makes you a good person’ and ‘adds projects to your resume’ benefits, the team at AcceleratorYYC has come up with 7 reasons why you should volunteer for a local startup.

Reason #1: Sharpen your skills and establish credibility

Marketing classes are the equivalent of written driving tests. You may learn the theory, but it takes experience to learn how to drive. Have you tested the theories from the classroom on a real company’s actual customers? If you’re passionate and eager to learn, most startups will let you take on a larger volunteer role and work with their numbers to create real results. Think of it this way – larger organizations don’t typically give volunteers access to their social media accounts or private mailing lists.

Make an impact for a small organization and establish your own credibility at the same time. The effort you display and your ability to measure results will help you stand out from your peers. Few can say they’ve gone above and beyond and helped increase revenue for a local startup on their own time.

Reason #2: Learn something new

You don’t know what you don’t know, until you know. Everyday is different in a startup. The title CEO & Founder of a startup can literally mean, ‘I do everything – from writing job postings to raising money from investors to presenting sales presentations to potential customers.” Being a volunteer insider will give you the opportunity to wear multiple hats and learn what it takes to run a company. Basically, all startup members wear many hats and if you’re willing to put in the time and effort, you can learn a lot from those people in real world settings.

Reason #3: Experience entrepreneurship firsthand

According to Gene Marks’ article on Inc.com, he believes that millennials make up the ‘entrepreneur generation’. He describes this generation as, “people in their 20s who want independence, mobility, challenges, and a rewarding occupation.” While you may not find those altruistic perks in a large corporation, you’ll certainly experience them in a startup.

If you’re part of the ‘entrepreneur generation’ and want to test out this type of environment, volunteering will give you the opportunity to do so with minimal commitment (free trial!). Many startups haven’t established their corporate processes and practices, giving you the freedom to test ideas and be a part of that initial growth period. Imagine being able to tell a future employer that you helped to shape a company’s best practices?

Reason #4: Form new connections

Obviously you’ll meet new people when you get involved in a new organization. However, the Calgary startup community is extremely supportive and we’ve found that many people will go out of their way to help you succeed. Find a local entrepreneur that can show you the ropes and volunteer your expertise to help them out in return. Beyond the additional connections, you’ll get the opportunity to work with them and learn directly from your mentor.

The startup community is growing fast and becoming more interconnected than ever thanks to support from local organizations and many success stories. If you’re volunteering for a local startup, you might as well jump head first into the community and connect with others at monthly events such as Mobile Monday, Startup Drinks, or weekly Hack Nights at AcceleratorYYC. You never know who you’ll meet who will impact your career later on – especially if you take the opportunity to establish credibility for your skills and expertise.

Reason #5: Diversify your portfolio

This reason touches on the obvious ‘add projects to your resume’ reason listed above, but it’s much more than that. Listing a project that you’ve helped create for a large company or department with over 100 employees is dramatically different than showcasing ownership of a project within a small startup with a handful of team member; Having a large client on your resume can buff your resume, but volunteering for a high-growth, nimble company with a limited budget can also show innovation, creativity and persistence. (Hint: these are the traits that will make you stand out from your peers… especially when you can back them up with measurable examples).

Volunteer for a unique project within a startup and show future employers that you have what it takes to work with a diverse range of stakeholders and get results.

Reason #6: Improve your time management skills

Everyone who has gone through a university or college-level program tends to put ‘excellent time management’ skills on their resume and cover letter. Why don’t you put that to the test? Add a few extra hours of volunteering and make a difference in a local startup as opposed to creeping a few extra hours on Facebook. Some of the busiest people tend to be the most productive as they have discovered what it takes to get everything done and not waste time. Push yourself now, master those skills and watch it pay off for your future career.

On that note, as a volunteer you’ll get to set your own time limits and availability. (You’re the boss! Okay, not quite…) You can always adjust your schedule to become more or less involved if your time commitment changes at any point.

Reason #7: Test out your ideal job

Volunteering lets you test out new companies that may not necessarily have been hiring for your role. You get to try out your ideal job, work with a variety of products or services and ultimately test different organizations until you find the right cultural fit. Once money is involved, that all changes and it becomes harder to quit.

If you’ve found the perfect fit, there are often opportunities to transition from volunteering into an internship or a future job placement when the startup is ready to hire. You’ll save yourself time on the job hunting process and will make for a smooth transition when you already know your future boss.

Going above and beyond for a small organization without receiving a paycheque is guaranteed to get you one step closer to landing your dream job. Beyond the personal connections, work experience and credibility that you’ll gain, you’ll also get to learn whether startup life is the career path for you!

Jenn is the director of AcceleratorYYC. She manages the co-working space and works alongside entrepreneurs and community stakeholders to provide startups with the resources they need. She holds a B.Comm degree from the University of Saskatchewan and is a passionate marketing communications and business development professional. Connect with Jenn here.

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